Aug. 5 update

A sunny start to the week. 

After we returned home last week Fritzlin and I started third grade. 

Only a few reading books remain to be read from our second grade books but we will finish those up and then move on to the third grade readers. 

Cory bought a Natcom router during our time off the mountain.

 If we walk 5 or 10 minutes, most mornings we can pick up the signal to connect to the internet.    

We still pray and hope that we can get the HughesNet dish to receive a strong enough signal to provide internet in the house. We have been communicating with the technician in Texas for ideas and then trying again.

Cory had the guys work on a path to the next ridge over last week to make it easier to get to. 

Coconut Crunch apple, a bit tattered from the hail storm, still growing.

This area has a nice grassy spot where the eastern end of LaGonave can be seen. I am planning to put a bench there for a prayer spot. 

It also has good phone signal!

The guys also planted elephant grass on parts of the property; planted a few trees; and worked on the driveway. 

We enjoyed church with the Agape house kids and our neighbors.

Cory will try to make a quick trip to Fauche soon to pick up trees and plants; check out the gardens [lack of rain severely limiting crops]; and have encouraging visits with our friends. 

Gener traveled down to bring us the needed satellite dish part on Tuesday so we were able to catch up on some of the news. 

 The lack of good rains mean failed peanut and breadfruit crops and more of the cacao trees are dying. 

If there are no tropical storms that bring rain the Fauche area will be dry for the next couple of months so gardens are not planted this time time of year. 

Eli will start his new job next week, Monday at 7 a.m. This week he gets to hang out with Anna who's done with camp and will be working on her driver's license and getting ready to go back to Calvin.